Tako-tsubo cardiomyopathy (TTC) is increasingly diagnosed in the United States, especially in the Caucasian population. To evaluate the clinical features and outcome of patients with TTC, we evaluated 34 patients (32 women and 2 men) 22 to 88 years of age (mean 66 +/- 14) who fulfilled the following criteria: (1) akinesia or dyskinesia of the apical and/or… (More)

OBJECTIVES
This study sought to quantify the learning curve for the safety and effectiveness of a newly introduced vascular closure device through evaluation of the NCDR (National Cardiovascular Data Registry) CathPCI clinical outcomes registry.
BACKGROUND
The impact of learning on the clinical outcomes complicates the assessment of the safety and… (More)

Hydropneumopericardium is a very rare complication of long-standing paraesophageal hernia, occurring as a result of rupture of the intrathoracic gastric volvulus into the pericardium. A chronic paraesophageal hernia that is complicated by gastric volvulus can develop into such surgical emergencies as acute gastric obstruction, strangulation, perforation,… (More)

Tako-tsubo syndrome is a cardiac syndrome triggered by emotional or physical stress and characterized by acute extensive but reversible akinesia of the apex and mid part of the left ventricle (LV) in the absence of obstructive coronary artery disease. It typically presents with chest pain and/or dyspnea and may mimic an acute coronary syndrome (ACS) with… (More)

Contrast-induced nephropathy (CIN) following coronary angiography is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. Contrast media volume is the key risk factor for CIN in patients with chronic kidney disease undergoing coronary angiography and interventions. Very often, coronary interventions are avoided in such high-risk patients because of possible… (More)